Which seed has adapted to being carried by water?

Which seed has adapted to being carried by water?

• A. Strawberry
• B. Peapod
• C. Coconut
• D. Burr

Answer: (C)

This question tests understanding of seed dispersal by water. Coconuts are built to float. The husk is thick and fibrous, creating buoyancy and protecting the seed inside as it rides ocean waves. The seed can survive long passages at sea and remains viable after saltwater exposure. When it eventually washes ashore on a suitable tropical coast, it can germinate and grow. This makes the coconut a classic example of hydrochorous dispersal, where water carries the seed to new habitats. Other seeds rely on different methods: strawberry seeds spread with help from animals or by human activity; peapod seeds typically drop nearby or are moved by animals after the pod bursts; burr seeds cling to fur or clothing for transport. Each strategy fits its own ecological context, but the coconut’s buoyant, ocean-travel adaptation is the best fit for water dispersal.

This question tests understanding of seed dispersal by water. Coconuts are built to float. The husk is thick and fibrous, creating buoyancy and protecting the seed inside as it rides ocean waves. The seed can survive long passages at sea and remains viable after saltwater exposure. When it eventually washes ashore on a suitable tropical coast, it can germinate and grow. This makes the coconut a classic example of hydrochorous dispersal, where water carries the seed to new habitats.

Other seeds rely on different methods: strawberry seeds spread with help from animals or by human activity; peapod seeds typically drop nearby or are moved by animals after the pod bursts; burr seeds cling to fur or clothing for transport. Each strategy fits its own ecological context, but the coconut’s buoyant, ocean-travel adaptation is the best fit for water dispersal.